Genetic resources (GR) is defined as "genetic material of actual or potential value". Genetic resources can be any kind of material like plants, animals or microbial. [1][2] In a food context, genetic resources are raw materials, which the world is relying on to improve quality and productivity of harvest, cattle, silviculture and fishing. It focuses on maintaining the health of wild species and creating a sustainable way for food security and nutrition. [3][4] Since 1960's, there has been a organization called International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) that has been precursor developing and creating different varieties of rice.[5]
The discussion concerning genetic resources for the future generations has been divided into two sub-groups in situ and ex situ. These groups has two different approaches to this issue. In situ approach is to maintain the resource in its natural environment. It will be exposed to daily practices and evolve in its natural environment. The ex situ approach wants to retain the genetic resources in genetic banks, botanical gardens and in research facilities like DNA banks.[6][7]
The video below explains how FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) is working with genetic resources and how they are developing the agriculture.
Challenges in genetic resources
Genetic resources are a big part of human living and is involved in every consumed meal. Since the beginning of agriculture 10 000 plant species have been used for human food. As for today, only 150 species are used for the majority of the world's population diets. Of the 150 species only 12 provides 70 percent of the worlds food, while the four big ones: rice, maize, wheat and potatoes are 50 percent of all the supply for human food.
Overall the European countries have a big responsibility concerning the plant genetic resources. European countries have the technology that is needed for for conservation and sustainably store genetic resources. Approximately 1/3 of the world's crops are maintained in ex situ DNA banks across Europe.[8][9]
The world is evolving fast and the population is increasing rapidly. Human kind have been forced to come up with faster ways on how to produce food (industrialization). That have led to modified resources and plants, which have effected the origin of a specific resource. This is leading the population towards a few resources, which is not good for human kind. The challenge for producers is to guaranty food security and food safety for future generations.[10]
In the video below employees from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) explains Genebanks standards for genetic resources in for food and agriculture.
Connection to SDG's
SDG 2: No Hunger's primary goal are to achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote for a sustainable agriculture. It also says that we need to reconstruct our way of growing, sharing and consuming food. This is directly connected to the topic genetic resource's aim.
Genetic resources is trying to engage people in understanding the importance of sustainable production and consumption in a right way. By sharing important information about food and by developing sustainable ways, genetic resources aim at the same targets as SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production.
SDG 15: Life on Land aims to provide food security and shelter where the nature is the key for everything. It concentrates on keeping biodiversity in a sustainable way, which connects directly to the topic genetic resources.
Corporate praxis
In the corporate world genetic resources is a big thing. The market for this is massive and it's evolving bigger all the time. The biggest players in this segment are Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta, which together controls over half of the seeds sales in the world. Smaller players like the East-West Seed focuses more on serving smallholder farmers than the big farmers. The profit margins is smaller, but the impact that you can make is bigger. Although the big players are more powerful than the smaller ones, the increase in demand of food will increase in the upcoming decades which makes it possible for the smaller farmers to take action. Since 85 % precent of the world's farms are smallholders, the impact that East-West Seed can achieve can make all the difference. In 2016, East-West Seed was ranked 1st by Access to seeds in the global index of for vegetable seeds.[11][12]
Critics
In EU there is a Biodiversity strategy plan that is planned to be enabled 2020. At the moment different countries legislations puts different countries in an unfair position. One of the biodiversity strategy plan 2020 targets is to ensure that everybody follows the same rules so that no one could avoid them. EU is trying with this cooperation between countries to put more pressure on other countries and regions decision makers for a better world for everyone in the future. [13]
Examples from Finland
Finland is one of the leading countries when it comes to genetic resources in agriculture and forestry. The conservation of Finnish genetic resources, that will ensure the future access to different plants for Finland, is stored by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGren). The sustainable use of the genetic resources are governed by Finland's National Plant and Animal Genetic Resource Programmes. They are based on agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (1993), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2004) and the Nagoya Protocol (2010). [14] There is also an organization in Finland that is responsible for research and maintenance of the genetic resources. It is the Natural Resources Institute Finland. [15]
Innovations
Monsanto is one of the bigger players in genetic resources and invests more than 180 million dollars every year for research and innovations. Monsanto has been developing a few new products to build better seeds and get better products for their consumers. They have come up with an onion type that is richer in flavor but will get you fever tears. It is called the EverMild onion. Then they have their improved nutrition broccoli Beneforté. Other products that Monsanto have developed are Meloränge ("Perfectly Ripe" melon), BellaFina (mini bell peppers) and Frescada (a cross between Romaine and iceberg lettuce). [16]
^ David Hoisington, Mirelle Khairallah, Timothy Reeves, Jean-Marcel Ribaut, Bent Skovmand, Suketoshi Taba & Marilyn Warbuton, (1999). Plant genetic resources: What can they contribute toward increased crop productivity?, National Academy of Science. vol. 96 no.11.
^ Robert E. Evenson & Douglas Gollin (1997). Genetic resources, international organizations, and improvement in rice varieties, Economic Development & Cultural change. vol. 45 pp. 471-500.
^ Rajora P. & Mosseler A. (2001). Challenges and opportunities for conversation of forest genetic resources, Euphytica. Volume 118, Issue 2, pp. 197-212
^ Brush S.B. (2000). Genes in the field on-farm conversation of crop diversity. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.
Definitions
Genetic resources (GR) is defined as "genetic material of actual or potential value". Genetic resources can be any kind of material like plants, animals or microbial. [1] [2] In a food context, genetic resources are raw materials, which the world is relying on to improve quality and productivity of harvest, cattle, silviculture and fishing. It focuses on maintaining the health of wild species and creating a sustainable way for food security and nutrition. [3] [4] Since 1960's, there has been a organization called International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) that has been precursor developing and creating different varieties of rice.[5]
The discussion concerning genetic resources for the future generations has been divided into two sub-groups in situ and ex situ. These groups has two different approaches to this issue. In situ approach is to maintain the resource in its natural environment. It will be exposed to daily practices and evolve in its natural environment. The ex situ approach wants to retain the genetic resources in genetic banks, botanical gardens and in research facilities like DNA banks.[6] [7]
The video below explains how FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) is working with genetic resources and how they are developing the agriculture.
Challenges in genetic resources
Genetic resources are a big part of human living and is involved in every consumed meal. Since the beginning of agriculture 10 000 plant species have been used for human food. As for today, only 150 species are used for the majority of the world's population diets. Of the 150 species only 12 provides 70 percent of the worlds food, while the four big ones: rice, maize, wheat and potatoes are 50 percent of all the supply for human food.
Overall the European countries have a big responsibility concerning the plant genetic resources. European countries have the technology that is needed for for conservation and sustainably store genetic resources. Approximately 1/3 of the world's crops are maintained in ex situ DNA banks across Europe.[8] [9]
The world is evolving fast and the population is increasing rapidly. Human kind have been forced to come up with faster ways on how to produce food (industrialization). That have led to modified resources and plants, which have effected the origin of a specific resource. This is leading the population towards a few resources, which is not good for human kind. The challenge for producers is to guaranty food security and food safety for future generations.[10]
In the video below employees from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) explains Genebanks standards for genetic resources in for food and agriculture.
Connection to SDG's
SDG 2: No Hunger's primary goal are to achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote for a sustainable agriculture. It also says that we need to reconstruct our way of growing, sharing and consuming food. This is directly connected to the topic genetic resource's aim.
Genetic resources is trying to engage people in understanding the importance of sustainable production and consumption in a right way. By sharing important information about food and by developing sustainable ways, genetic resources aim at the same targets as SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production.
SDG 15: Life on Land aims to provide food security and shelter where the nature is the key for everything. It concentrates on keeping biodiversity in a sustainable way, which connects directly to the topic genetic resources.
Corporate praxis
In the corporate world genetic resources is a big thing. The market for this is massive and it's evolving bigger all the time. The biggest players in this segment are Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta, which together controls over half of the seeds sales in the world. Smaller players like the East-West Seed focuses more on serving smallholder farmers than the big farmers. The profit margins is smaller, but the impact that you can make is bigger. Although the big players are more powerful than the smaller ones, the increase in demand of food will increase in the upcoming decades which makes it possible for the smaller farmers to take action. Since 85 % precent of the world's farms are smallholders, the impact that East-West Seed can achieve can make all the difference. In 2016, East-West Seed was ranked 1st by Access to seeds in the global index of for vegetable seeds.[11] [12]
Critics
In EU there is a Biodiversity strategy plan that is planned to be enabled 2020. At the moment different countries legislations puts different countries in an unfair position. One of the biodiversity strategy plan 2020 targets is to ensure that everybody follows the same rules so that no one could avoid them. EU is trying with this cooperation between countries to put more pressure on other countries and regions decision makers for a better world for everyone in the future. [13]Examples from Finland
Finland is one of the leading countries when it comes to genetic resources in agriculture and forestry. The conservation of Finnish genetic resources, that will ensure the future access to different plants for Finland, is stored by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGren). The sustainable use of the genetic resources are governed by Finland's National Plant and Animal Genetic Resource Programmes. They are based on agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (1993), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2004) and the Nagoya Protocol (2010). [14] There is also an organization in Finland that is responsible for research and maintenance of the genetic resources. It is the Natural Resources Institute Finland. [15]Innovations
Monsanto is one of the bigger players in genetic resources and invests more than 180 million dollars every year for research and innovations. Monsanto has been developing a few new products to build better seeds and get better products for their consumers. They have come up with an onion type that is richer in flavor but will get you fever tears. It is called the EverMild onion. Then they have their improved nutrition broccoli Beneforté. Other products that Monsanto have developed are Meloränge ("Perfectly Ripe" melon), BellaFina (mini bell peppers) and Frescada (a cross between Romaine and iceberg lettuce). [16]Open sources
M.B. Burke, D.B. Lobell & L. Guarino (2009). Shifts in African crop climates by 2050, and the implications for crop improvement and genetic resources conservation, Global Environmental Change, pp. 317-325St. B. Brush & E. Meng (1998). Farmers´ valuation and conservation of crop genetic resources. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Issue 45, pp. 139-150.
G. Moore & & W. Tymowski (2005). Explanatory Guide to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, IUCN – The World Conservation Union
External links
Ministry of agriculture and forestry: http://mmm.fi/en/frontpageNatural Resources Institute Finland: https://www.luke.fi/en/
Preparatory actions on EU plant and animal genetic resources in agriculture: http://www.geneticresources.eu/
Quiz
Quiz created by Anders Genberg with GoConqrThe EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/info/pubs/docs/brochures/2020%20Biod%20brochure%20final%20lowres.pdf
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Genetic Resources. Available: http://mmm.fi/en/nature-and-climate/genetic-resources
Monsanto, Research and Innovation. Available: http://www.monsanto.com/products/pages/vegetable-seeds-science.aspx